The 1978 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's third season in the National Football League, the third playing their home games at Tampa Stadium, and the third under head coach John McKay. As their two 1977 victories had been in the last two games of the season, they entered the 1978 season with the longest active winning streak in the NFC Central.
The Buccaneers entered the season with new offensive talent, having selected Doug Williams with the 17th overall pick of the draft. This choice was questioned by many, as there was still an element of society who claimed that a black quarterback was not mentally capable of winning in the NFL, and prejudice is believed to have been a factor in Williams having been drafted as low as seventeenth. According to Buccaneer coach John McKay, "All things being equal, Williams would have gone higher in the draft".Marshall, Joe. "It Was the Same Old Song and Dance". Sports Illustrated. 15 May 1978 Second-year tight end Jimmie Giles, part of the trade that landed Williams, emerged as the Buccaneers’ first receiving threat and still holds several of their scoring records. Its A Man's World...: A Blast from the Past: Number 88 TE, Jimmie Giles. Accessed 27 March 2009
Offseason Offseason coaching changes led to continued accusations of disorganization, as vice-president of operations Ron Wolf resigned, citing only "personal matters"."Sports in Brief". Spokane Daily Chronicle. 23 February 1978 This renewed speculation that head coach John McKay, who replaced Wolf with two of his own longtime assistants, was trying to consolidate front-office power.Zier, Patrick. "Wolf's Resignation An Indication That All's Not Well". The Lakeland Ledger. 23 February 1978 The coaching staff was reshuffled, with Tom Bass being named defensive coordinator, and offensive coordinator Joe Gibbs hired away from the St. Louis Cardinals."Bucs name Tom Bass defensive coordinator". St. Petersburg Times. 25 February 1978Notes from the sports world". The Boca Raton News. 9 February 1978 Offensive line coach Jerry Frei left to take the same position with the Chicago Bears.UPI. "Frei to Bears". Ellensburg Daily Record. 14 March 1978
Tight end Bob Moore was traded, along with a 1979 first-round draft pick, for three-time All-Pro Bears defensive end Wally Chambers. The Buccaneers were widely considered to have given up too much in the trade, as Chambers was coming off of major knee surgery and was considered by many to be "damaged merchandise", and the Buccaneers were left with minimal experience at tight end.Martz, Ron. "Bay Bucs sign Chambers but give up Moore". St. Petersburg Times. 14 April 1978"No tearful goodbyes in Chicago". St. Petersburg Times. 14 April 1978 The trade was also criticized on the grounds that the Buccaneers did not require Chambers to undergo a team physical, despite his injury history.Martz, Ron. "Are the Bucs sure of what they're doing?" St. Petersburg Times. 14 April 1978 Council Rudolph, the only player who had started in all 28 of the Buccaneers’ games to date, was made expendable by the trade and was dealt to the Miami Dolphins for a draft pick.Zier, Patrick. "Rudolph's Trade End Of An Era". The Lakeland Ledger. 7 July 1978
Preseason speculation ran high about what would happen with the Buccaneers’ first overall choice in the draft, with Houston Oilers’ coach Bum Phillips reportedly stating that the Oilers would better any other team's offer to the Buccaneers.Times staff. "Oilers’ eyes upon Campbell". St. Petersburg Times. 4 February 1978 Unlike the previous year, when it was made clear early on that Ricky Bell was to be their choice, the Buccaneers kept quiet about who they might draft, further fueling speculation about a trade. The New York Jets were said to have offered their fourth-overall draft pick, plus any player on their roster other than Richard Todd.Martz, Ron. "Chandler is ‘secret’ No. 1 with Bucs". St. Petersburg Times. 7 April 1978 Tight end was considered to be the Buccaneers’ single greatest need, with Ken MacAfee of Notre Dame often mentioned as a likely draft target. According to Don Shula, "With John McKay's type of offense, an outstanding tight end is absolutely essential. It cannot go without one". This happened to be one of the positions hit hardest by injury in 1977. With most of their mid-round draft picks traded away, the Buccaneers were looking for a trade that would bring them several draft picks.Mizell, Hubert. "Rams, Oilers eager to trade for Bucs’ No. 1". St. Petersburg Times. 20 April 1978 With no teams willing to give up a starting quarterback as part of a deal, the Buccaneers eventually traded the pick to the Oilers, for tight end Jimmie Giles and the Oilers’ first- and second-round picks in 1978, and their third- and fifth-round picks in 1979.Wire services. "Oilers make a deal". Eugene Register-Guard. 25 April 1978 Needing a fullback, the Buccaneers shortly afterward traded Anthony Davis to the Oilers for Don Hardeman.Associated Press. "Oilers obtain Anthony Davis from Tampa". Eugene Register-Guard. 30 April 1978
NFL draft
Buccaneers 1978 draft at pro-football-reference.com. Accessed 20 September 2009
Draft trades The Buccaneers' first overall selection in the 1978 draft was traded to the Houston Oilers in exchange for four draft picks and tight end Jimmie Giles. The Oilers used the pick to select running back Earl Campbell. The Buccaneers’ 3rd-, 4th-, and 6th round picks were traded to the Oakland Raiders for guard Dan Medlin, tackle Jeff Winans, and linebacker Rik Bonness, respectively. Their 5th-round pick was traded to the Miami Dolphins for cornerback Jeris White. The Buccaneers received a 6th-round pick from the Los Angeles Rams for center Dan Ryczek. Their 7th-round pick was traded to the Atlanta Falcons in return for kicker Allan Leavitt. Their 11th-round pick, along with a second 10th-rounder obtained from the Raiders, were traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in return for defensive tackle Ernie Holmes. 1978 Draft at bucpower.com. Accessed 27 March 2009
Draft selections The Buccaneers had a reduced number of selections in what was considered to have been the weakest draft in a long time.Associated Press. "Dallas Brass Agree Draft Pickings Were Slim". The Lakeland Ledger. 4 May 1978 Doug Williams was considered to be the closest thing to a can't-miss quarterback prospect available in the draft. Representatives of several other teams, including Green Bay Packers coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr, called the Buccaneers to congratulate them on his selection.Zier, Patrick. "Bucs Make History By Taking Williams". The Lakeland Ledger. 3 May 1978 John McKay, in charge of the draft for the first time, stated that with no outstanding quarterbacks expected to be in the following year's draft, the team had to have Williams. Johnny Davis was a surprise selection, as running back was considered to be one of the team's deepest positions, but Davis was drafted for his blocking ability.Martz, Ron. "Bucs use picks for offensive talent". St. Petersburg Times. 3 May 1978 McKay pointed out that many of the previous year's quarterback sacks had been the result not of offensive line breakdowns, but of failure of running backs to pick up blitzes.Martz, Ron. "Johnny Davis". St. Petersburg Times. 3 May 1978 Brett Moritz played half of the 1977 season at Nebraska, after transferring from West Point. He was projected as a backup center.Martz, Ron. "Brett Moritz". St. Petersburg Times. 3 May 1978 McKay traded a 10th- and an 11th-round pick, players who would not be expected to make the team anyway, to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Ernie Holmes, at one time an important part of the Steelers’ championship defenses. Holmes, who was once involved in a shotgun standoff with police after an incidence of acute paranoid psychosis, was traded for on the understanding that his personal problems were behind him. Steelers coach Chuck Noll called the trade "a gift".Zier, Patrick. "Buccaneers Give Little For Holmes". The Lakeland Ledger. 4 May 1978 The Buccaneers once again passed on offensive linemen, saying that the existing players would improve with more time together, and that the best linemen were all drafted early.Meyer, John. "Bucs Aren't Knocking the Deal". St. Petersburg Evening Independent. 4 May 1978 The Buccaneers later traded a future draft choice to the Detroit Lions for veteran tackle Rockne Freitas.Associated Press. "Bucs Trade For Piece of 'Rock'". St. Petersburg Evening Independent. 11 May 1978
Preseason Doug Williams’ first preseason pass, a 75-yard incompletion that sailed 10 yards past receiver Isaac Hagins, drew a standing ovation from the Tampa Stadium crowd. He was the first quarterback in Buccaneer history capable of throwing long passes downfield.Tierney, Mike. "30 Seasons: 1976–2005. From Sinking Ship to World-Class Cruise. St. Petersburg Times. 11 September 2005 Miami Dolphins nose tackle Randy Crowder, freshly released from federal prison, was signed as a free agent. Ernie Holmes, who was having trouble adjusting to the Buccaneers’ 3–4 defense, was waived to make room for him. A 1979 3rd-round draft pick was sent to the Dolphins as NFL-ordered compensation.Martz, Ron. "Crowder joins Buccaneers; Holmes cut to make room". St. Petersburg Times. 22 August 1978 Johnny Davis and Jimmy DuBose performed so well in the preseason that newly acquired fullback Don Hardeman was sent to the Baltimore Colts for a future draft pick. Wins in their first three preseason games, combined with the two wins at the end of the previous season, gave the Buccaneers the longest active NFL win streak going into the final preseason game.Stiff, Robert. "The Bowl Talk is Premature". St. Petersburg Evening Independent. 23 August 1978 That game, a loss to the Dolphins, was the first Buccaneers game to sell out.Martz, Ron. "Midday visitor gives Bucs their first sellout". St. Petersburg Times. 22 August 1978
Regular season